Confucius Institute at Eduardo Mondlane University Celebrates Its Fifth Anniversary

On November 20th, local time, the Confucius Institute at Eduardo Mondlane University celebrated its fifth anniversary in the auditorium of the university. Florida Hugo, Vice Minister of Higher Education of Mozambique, Su Jian, Chinese Ambassador to Mozambique, Orlando Quilambo, President of Eduardo Mondlane University, Zheng Mengzhuang, President of Zhejiang Normal University as well as over 500 people including Mozambican governmental officials, representatives of Chinese-funded enterprises, teachers and students from the Confucius Institute and people from all walks of life were present at the celebration.

The celebration kicked off amid the national anthems of both countries. Florida Hugo specially pointed out in her speech that Mozambican contestants had won the first place in the African division of “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students, which demonstrates of the high-quality teaching of the Confucius Institute at Eduardo Mondlane University. She also expressed that the Ministry of Higher Education of Mozambique will continue to support the exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.

Florida Hugo delivering a speech

Su Jian in his speech fully recognized the efforts made by the Confucius Institute at Eduardo Mondlane University to promoting Chinese language teaching and actively conducting various cultural activities in Mozambique. He hoped that the university and Zhejiang Normal University would continue to play positive roles in promoting educational and cultural cooperation and deepening friendship between the two countries.

Su Jian delivering a speech

Orlando Quilambo spoke highly of the important role of the Confucius Institute in providing a platform for cultural exchanges and Chinese learning. He noted that the cooperation between the Confucius Institute and Eduardo Mondlane University has a far-reaching significance and hoped that more and more Mozambican people will learn Chinese and know about China.

Zheng Mengzhuang gave a detailed introduction to the achievements made by the Confucius Institute at Eduardo Mondlane University in such aspects as teaching results and cultural activities. He said that Zhejiang Normal University attaches great importance to the work at the Confucius Institute and African studies and hoped that the institute can keep growing and witness the friendship between China and Mozambique.

Zheng Mengzhuang delivering a speech

Afterwards, teachers and students from the Confucius Institute brought an audio and visual feast to the audience. The chorus Come to the Confucius Institute at Eduardo Mondlane University and the songs in Mozambican dialect including Mungu ibariki Africa and Ya le lo performed by the teachers expressed the spirit of mutual learning and cultural integration, as well as deep blessings for Africa and Mozambique, wining rounds of applause from the audience. Choir of Eduardo Mondlane University that had performed Chinese songs for President Filipe Nyusi twice before sang two classic songs of Sweet and Song and Smile, showing superb musicianship. A song and dance performance Hug Me If You Love Me by children from the Chinese International School won rounds of cheers and applause from the audience. Ou Jia and Naomi, the champions of the African division of the Tenth “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students, presented their signature song of In My Song. In addition, teachers and students also presented excellent shows, such as Chinese instrumental ensemble, martial arts performance and traditional local dance performance. During the shows, the guests gave prizes to the winners and excellent instructors of the Third Chinese Character Writing Contest and the First “China in My Eye” Freehand Sketching Contest.

Teachers of the Confucius Institute singing Mungu ibariki Africa

Children from the Chinese International School singing Hug Me If You Love Me

Students from the Confucius Institute performing Tai Chi

Award presenters and winners

At last, as the audience was singing Happy Birthday merrily, the guests cut the birthday cake together, wishing a happy birthday to the fifth anniversary of the Confucius Institute at Eduardo Mondlane University. They also promised to meet again five years later.

Guests cutting the birthday cake together

Founded on October 15th, 2012, the Confucius Institute at Eduardo Mondlane University now has 24 Chinese teachers and 11 teaching sites, making Chinese teaching accessible throughout Mozambique. The total number of enrolled students from all circles has exceeded 4,000 and the recent two years have also witnessed a sharp rise in the number of HSK examinees. In 2016, Eduardo Mondlane University began to offer specialized courses on Chinese language. Since then, Chinese language has been officially included into the national higher education system of Mozambique.

Story by Zhang Xinge; photos by Wu Ying, Zhang Yan